Science

DOE: Fifteen AlgaePrize Teams Advance As Finalists

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Collage of 2022–2023 AlgaePrize finalist teams. Courtesy/DOE

DOE News:

Fifteen teams are advancing as finalists in the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) 2022–2023 AlgaePrize competition.

Finalist teams were selected based on their 10-page research synopsis, which described each team’s research plan for their proposed project within the AlgaePrize’s areas of interest.

Each team’s research synopsis:

  • Described how the team’s proposed research compares to and will advance the current state of technology;
  • Displayed a sound understanding of algae systems
Read More

Los Alamos Faith & Science Forum Returns To Kelly Hall At Trinity On The Hill Church For 9th Season Of Talks

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Nels Hoffman giving a Faith and Science Forum talk in Kelly Hall at Trinity on the Hill Church. Courtesy/LAFSF

LAFSF News:

The Los Alamos Faith and Science Forum (LAFSF) invites the public to a summer of celebration of being together again and continued examination of issues at the interface of faith and science:

  • Extending the discussion on human origins and evolution;
  • Expanding the boundaries of faith and embedded truth; and
  • Exploring the nature of God’s interaction with humankind.

The LAFSF’s ninth season of Wednesday events runs June 1 to Aug. 3.

The season starts with invited external speaker Read More

AGU: Wildfire Smoke Speeds Glacial Melt, Changes Mountain Runoff

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Soot-covered ice found on the Athabasca Glacier in the Canadian Rockies. Photo by Caroline Aubry-Wake

AGU News:

“The occurrence and severity of wildfires is increasing. It is linked with climate change and past forest management, and has wide-ranging consequences for human activities and ecology,” said Caroline Aubry-Wake, a PhD candidate in USask’s College of Arts and Science and co-author of the study alongside supervisor Dr. John Pomeroy (PhD) and fellow PhD candidate Andre Bertoncini. Both Aubry-Wake and Bertoncini are student members of the Global Institute for Water Security.  Read More

LANL: Magnetic Impurities Turn Quantum Dots Into Emitters Of Free Electrons

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Artist’s representation of electron emission from the quantum dot into water for further use in useful photochemistry such as carbon dioxide conversion or generation of ‘solar fuels’. The quantum dot is a spherical item on the left; it consists of many atoms (small circles). It is energized by a laser beam and the electron (white dot) ejected from the quantum dot is propelled up and to the right into water. Courtesy/Albin Guyot

LANL News:

Incorporating magnetic ions into colloidal quantum dots enables them to convert light into a stream of free electrons. This effect could benefit numerous Read More

On The Job In Los Alamos: Kimberly Carson At UbiQD

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On the job in Los Alamos Thursday is Research and Development Chemist Kimberly Carson at UbiQD, 134 Eastgate Dr. During her work Thursday Carson is taking a raw quantum dot-polymer mixture, putting it through a R&D extruder to create a quantum-dot integrated extruded filament. From there, the filament is pelletized into small pieces, and finally sent off to a manufacturer that will turn it into an agricultural film. These films will be field tested and eventually used commercially to cover greenhouses. Carson has worked at UbiQD for nearly two years. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Read More

LANL Fellows Present Frontiers In Science: ‘Wildfire, Water And Climate Change – Protecting Communities And Supporting Ecosystem Resilience’ May 11-12

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Adam Atchley, Los Alamos National Laboratory hydrologist

LANL News:

Drought, climbing temperatures and vicious winds have stoked dozens of fires in New Mexico and hundreds across the nation—and it’s only the first week of May. Across the West, even normally drenched regions have experienced more destructive wildfires.

Two free, public lectures this month will relay how new scientific tools and expertise empowers society to better predict and respond to prescribed and wildland fires in complex conditions that enable proactive wildland fire management.

“We are now seeing larger and more Read More

Sweet ‘Chocolate’ Exhibit Opens At New Mexico Museum Of Natural History & Science In June

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The opening of ‘Chocolate: The Exhibition’ during its run at The Field Museum. The exhibition, which engages the senses and traces the evolution of chocolate, will opens June 17 at the NMMNHS.. Courtesy/The Field Museum

NMMNHS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Get ready, Chocoholics: a new exhibition that explores every aspect of your favorite sweet treat is coming to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (NMMNHS) this summer. 

June 17, the Museum will open the doors to “Chocolate: The Exhibition,” a traveling exhibit that engages the senses and traces the evolution of chocolate from a small, Read More

Luján Speaks On Senate Floor, Secures Motion In Support Of National Labs

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U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SNATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) spoke on the Senate Floor today in support of his Motion to Instruct, which urges the Congressional conferees of the Bipartisan Innovation Bill to support National Laboratories and the Department of Energy.

Following the Senator’s speech and consideration by the Senate, Luján’s bipartisan motion was passed.

“Our National Labs are a research crown jewel, and countries like China are taking notice of our progress, Luján said. As China works to build out their own national lab network modeled after our Read More

Los Alamos National Laboratory: Bioplastics Point Way To Environmentally Sustainable, Green Future

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Non-fossil energy sources and developing environmentally friendly plastics highlight the breadth of the broader challenge of decarbonizing the economy for a sustainable future. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Getting a grip on climate change depends on shifting from CO2-emitting fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. When that happens, where will we get all the plastic we need for, well, nearly everything?

Most plastics today come from petroleum. About three-quarters of every barrel of oil goes to make gasoline, diesel and jet fuel; the remaining quarter goes to other products, including Read More

Rotary: James Webb Space Telescope Presentation April 19

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Dr. Daniel Reisenfeld describing the mission of the James Webb Space Telescope at a recent Rotary Club meeting at Cottonwood on the Greens. Here he explains the timeline of the telescope’s launch and deployment. Photo by Linda Hull

By LINDA HULL
Vice President
Rotary Club of Los Alamos

“It took a lot of science,” began Dr. Daniel Reisenfeld, a Senior Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, drawing good-natured chuckles from the Rotary Club audience as he introduced his April 19 program, The James Webb Space Telescope and Its Science.

With an impressive PowerPoint presentation and videos, Read More